Electrical connector.



J. E. RORK.

ELECTRICAL-CONNECTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 18. I917.

Patented July 2, 1918.

- INVENTOR.

dA E6 E. P PK ATTORNEYS,

WITNESSES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRICAL CONN E CTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1918.

Application filed June 18, 1917. Serial No. 175,387.

To all whom it may condem:

Be it known that LJAMns E. RORK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical connectors.

The object of the invention is to provide a flexible connector provided with terminals of such a structure that they may be applied I bodiment of myinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I shows a flexible cable, the ends of which are provided with my improved terminal.

Fig. II is a perspective view showing one use of my improved connector in combination with a battery of storage cells;

Fig. III shows my improved terminal attached to a storage battery terminal of the taper pin type. r

Fig. IV shows my improved terminal connected to a cell post.

Fig. V illustrates the means and the methodby which my terminal is connected to a flexible cable.

Fig. VI is a plan view of the halves of the mold I employ in, making the connection be tween my improved terminal and the flexible cable.

In the drawings similar reference charactcrs refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 1 indicates a flexible cable comprising a conducting wire 2 which may, if desired, be of a stranded type and provided with an insulating cover 3.

The terminals which are attached to each end of the cable are formed from hard drawn brass wire or any other wire having similar characteristlcs. The terminal is formed from a piece of such wire which is coiled at approximately the middle point thereof to form a plurality of juxtaposed coils I with the ends of the coil extending from opposite ends thereof, preferably but not necessarily in spaced substantially parallel relation, as shown in Fig. I, where the hooked end of the wire is shown in dotted outline in substantially spaced parallel relation to the shank portion 5 of the terminal. The opposite end of the wire forming the terminal is provided with a hook 6 which is adapted to be engaged with the shank portion 5 of the terminal, as shown in various of the figures.

The ends of the cable 1 are secured to the ends of the shank 5 by twisting the two together as shown at 7 in Fig. V. The two reversely formed complementary molds 8 are then placed about the joint thus formed, as shown in Fig. V. The notches 10 and 10 in the ends of the molds form apertures for receiving the cable 1 and the shank '5 while the opposed notches 9 form an aperture through which the lead may be poured to form the sleeve 11 having the reduced portion 12. This lead sleeve not only increases the conductivity of the joint but it also serves to protect these joints from the injurious effect of acids such as are used in storage batteries, and it also provides a sort of a handle for manipulating the terminal.

In Fig. II, a pair of my improved connectors are shown connecting the charging wires 13 with the terminal wires 14 of a storage battery, the insulation being stripped back from the ends of all of the wires to expose the conductor. All that is necessary to connect one of the terminals i0 a wire is to force the end of the wire b tween the adjacent coils or convolutions, the tension of the coils being sufiicient to hold them upon the wire or conductor and to give the necessary contact.

In Fig. III, my improved terminal is shown attached to the sleeve of a pin terminal. In making this connection, the hooked end of the terminal is threaded through the opening in the pin terminal and then hooked over the shank 5 whereby the tension of the spring coil is increased to maintailn a firm contact between the two termina s.

In Fig. IV, my improved terminal is shown engaged with an ordinary post terminal of a storage cell.

From the above illustration of various uses of my invention, it will be apparent thatmy improved terminal can be used to make connections with terminals of types other than those illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a flexible cable, of a terminal secured to each end thereof comprising a coil of wire formed with a plurality of convolutions and having its ends extended in spaced substantially parallel relation, one of its ends being provided with a hook, the other end forming a shank joined to one end of said cable, and a lead sleeve surrounding the joint between said cable and said shank and extending along said cable and said shank whereby it forms a handle for manipulating said terminal.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a flexible cable, of a terminal secured to each end thereof comprising a coil of wire formed with a plurality of convolutions and having one of its ends provided with a hook, the other end forming a shank joined to one end of said cable, and a lead sleeve surrounding the joint between said cable and said shank and extending along said cable and said shank whereby it forms a handle for manipulating said terminal.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a flexible cable, of a f terminal secured to one end thereof comprising a coil of wire formed with a plurality of convolutions and having one of its ends joined to said flexible cable, the other of said ends being provided with a hook adapted to engage the first named end, and a metal sleeve embedding the joint.

.4. In a structure of the class described, a terminal comprising a coil of wire, the ends of said coil extending from opposite sides thereof in spaced substantially parallel relation, one of said ends forming a shank adapted to be connected to a conductor and the other end being provided with a hook adapted to engage said shank, substantially as described.

5. In a structure of the class described, a terminal comprising a coil of wire, one end ofwhich forms a shank adapted to be connected to a conductor and the other end being provided with a hook adapted to engage said shank, substantially as described.

6. In a structure of the class described, a terminal comprising a coil of wire having a pair of adjacent convolutions and extended ends, one of said ends being adapted for engagement with the other end, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two 

